Selecting the font had to be the joining of sleek & a little old fashion. Trolling Pinterest for fonts, I found this one. I saved it, enlarged it, printed it, and traced it. Laying on the stairs to paint hand paint the numbers was the hardest part of the job. Transfer/carbon paper
After last year's remodel in my home, the dust has finally settled enough to refine the details.These stairs were carpeted in their previous life. They were then painted with darker colors, which at the time was the style. With the new design, the stairs need an "uplift". Even the cat appreciates lighter, brighter feel! Selecting the font had to be the joining of sleek & a little old fashion. Trolling Pinterest for fonts, I found this one. I saved it, enlarged it, printed it, and traced it. Laying on the stairs to paint hand paint the numbers was the hardest part of the job. Transfer/carbon paper Time tested, cat approved! If he looks familiar, he can be seen in McKinney Cottage Schmear; An Extraordinarily Easy Fireplace Update
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I like to paint . . . A LOT, but the opportunity rarely presents itself on a regular basis. My blog partner brought me a blank, framed canvas a few weeks ago. I finally took a weekend off & did a few things I wanted to do. This was a pre-made, framed print - it had been purchased at a Blockbuster years ago. We taped it off & painted the canvas white with a primer. A lamp & pillow were the color/style inspiration, but that was about it. I was given free reign to create my own design. So here I am wondering how to get this started. Her son wanted a large piece of artwork and I have never, ever tried anything like this. The print was destined for Goodwill if it didn't get a makeover, so I had nothing to lose. It wasn't as hard as I thought. I liked the freedom & loose style. It pushed me further and challenged me to try new things. For example, I didn't have a spray bottle with water, so I gave the painting a misting of Febreze. It mottled the paint & gave it an unexpected texture.
Ah, an old dog can learn new tricks. I am by no means an expert at any of this, but I can say trying is half the battle. It's not what ya know but what ya do. I got so inspired I even went out & bought new brushes. There's nothing like a natural bristle that will get the stroke on . . . Oh Yeah! To see all of the post so far from Personal Project Planning – The Year of Doing . . .
Personal Project Planning - The Year of Doing Personal Project Planning - #18 Cover Mismatched Fabric Boxes Personal Project Planning - #19 Finish Painting That Vintage Bed Personal Project Planning . . . #9 - Mother Nature Stalls Progress Personal Project Planning - Architectural Challenge - How To Personal Project Planning: Architectural Challenge ![]() I was given a pair of 1922 Chippendale beds from my sister-in-law which were inherited from her grandmother. Her name was Christine also & she was from Electra, Texas. My in-laws also lived there just after WWII. To be accurate, I actually put two headboards together & sold the footboards at a garage sale. I hated the footboards because they were half the height & had music lairs. They sat in my barn for years & when my youngest daughter moved out I brought them in for the spare room. This is the space where I've put our manly-family mementos. Although feminine, this room is a tribute to my Northern California, outdoor lifestyle. Living a "Huck Finn" childhood, I cherished the masculine treasures as much as my mother's old cookbooks. Fusing our families' memories, creates the perfect visual connection. I digress, everything has a back story for me - but that is how I connect to everything I own! That is why I continue to make improvements to the things I already have. This is where I tell you how I upcycled this old bed . . . I neither sanded nor stripped this bed frame. I used my homemade chalk paint recipe. My first 2 coats of paint were a dark, charcoal gray. Next I did another 2 coats but in white. I will admit I used a bottle of $2.99 white craft paint with the chalk paint recipe. I sanded to taste & applied a coat of wax. The dark base coat gives an extra dimension after lightly sanding. ![]() The "Secret" Chalk Paint Recipe 1 TBSP unsanded grout to 1 cup of paint, add minimal water to retain smooth coverage. Store in covered container. ![]() ![]() Now that were are in the post holiday funk, it's time to look forward to spring. OK, I'm going to back up a little bit--that black whole between January & March is going to be filled! I usually kinda dither my time away trying to figure out what to do at this time but somehow waste it away over thinking it. I ping. . . bouncing ideas without direction and no true commitment to finishing anything. This year will be different, I say that every year, but this year will be different. I am creating a . . . "Personal Project Plan." I will pull out my bulging files of magazine cut-outs, small pieces of paper I'd stuffed in books & make a monthly line up of preferred projects. I usually get 40% of my own projects completed, they are usually done on a whim without plan. So, there is an additional 25% sitting in the back of my closet (or in the barn) crying to be re-recognized. You know how you have those ideas, & you think it will be the bomb & it BOMBS? That pesky idea that just doesn't do what you wanted it to? Now, what you say to yourself, "off to another idea & hope it percolates into a full cuppa. This is where my P3 comes into play. I'm going to place my ideas & whims onto a calendar to give myself structure. There is nothing like a completion date--just like projects for my work- I will achieve my goals for myself. Now creative goals are different than work goals, they are further down the food chain of To Do's. This year they are climbing their way up. The only way to do this is with action. I am by no means a lazy person, I do more than most people, but I can do better & I can do more. So, the calendar is coming out, and with pencil in hand (I do need an eraser) as I will plot out my top 10 projects of the year. It's going to be hard picking the top 10 because I want EVERYTHING. The calendar makes the ideas a little bit more of a reality. I go to the dentist, I celebrate other people's birthdays, why can't I do this for myself? And again I think this year will be different. ![]() My Top Ten list includes 20 things. If a project doesn't run, I still have a horse in the stables. So saddle up & let's get ready! Personal Project Plan - P3 20 ideas for 10 projects - a girl can change her mind, even with a list! 1. Create my favorite dog photos into silhouette pillows or prints 2. Make envelopes from old shopping bags or vintage paper 3. Make totes from recycled fabrics 4. Paint a painting of a photographed animal ![]() 5. Create a felted, flower pillow 6. Make vintage, sewing notion jewelry 7. Photograph and blowup a picture and frame artwork 8. Make trendy looking, monogrammed or stenciled hand or tea towels 9. Finish enclosing my back porch with screen doors and shutters. **This is a biggy** I have been collecting doors & shutters forever! 10. Get the "baby" dresser from the attic. Clean, repair and find a place for it ![]() ![]() 11. Tile my back fireplace & hearth (spending allowance only $40 - ReStore Store visit in order!) 12. Paint a fresh coat on my outdoor furniture - it's a massive undertaking 13. Make a Christmas runner with the vintage patterns I scanned from a client's project I created in 2011 14. Make those Christmas cards I have talked about for 15 years! 15. Do something with those GIANT acorns I have stashed for a year 16. Paint a bird on silk again using a light box 17. Finish that neglected trellis (paint it too) 18. Cover all those mismatched fabric boxes with something I like, 19. Finish painting that vintage bed 20. Rewire at least 2 of those hanging lights in the barn and do something with them ![]() Wow, this is a drop in the bucket of my running list of "wanna do's", but is a good beginning. No more pouring through the magazine "tear outs", no more wandering from room to room, gazing at each wall - trying to inspire myself - then going off doing some laundry. Lucky #13- 2013! P3 has been chosen . . . some are easy, some - well not so simple at all! These are things that have been waiting in the wings for ages. I will see how I can cut through this list. What does your list look like? I go into this year with a full heart, hand full of artistic materials and a true desire to get it done! ![]() Supplies:
Use jigsaw to cut board (you can use 1/4" plywood) to fit into the louvered space in the shutter. Use drill to create pilot holes in the board to match the shutter. Line up and mark your board so you know which piece goes to which shutter. We numbered and put arrows on each board & shutter insert so everything would line up when the bolts were attached to both. Put the bolts into holes & attach the nuts to the backside. Helpful Hint: Add a dab of hot glue at the base of the bolt after it is slipped into the wood to keep it in place. Using polyfil batting, we cut one piece of polyfil to size and the other 1" larger to wrap around the board. Miter the corners and hot glue down. Find the center point of the fabric (we found the center of the words we stenciled) horizontally and vertically. Pin to the batting to hold fabric in place. Flip it face down and begin with the corners. Stretch the fabric slightly at each corner & hot glue as you go. Clip the corners of the fabric and miter as seen in photo; glue to board. Begin at the center of each side, pulling it taut and gluing towards each corner. Remove the nuts from the bolts & line them up with the appropriate louvered space. Push the bolts through (this is not easy) and attach the nuts. We used plastic shutters so we also bolted those together. To mount on the wall, we used drywall screws. If you have trouble finding a stud, you can use a screw-in molly bolt. We used the same paint to cover the screw heads. Stand back & admire your handy-work! To see our related post & videos:
The Science & Art of Painting Fabric The Science & Art of Chalk Paint YouTube – Painting Fabric YouTube - Padded Shutter Headboard ![]() OK, we are chalk paint novices so "Science & Art" might be strong language, but we got your attention. There is a buzz about making your own chalk paint. We saw it on line in a million different places & thought "Let's try this"; there is nothing to lose but time. The verdict is in & we LOVE the chalk paint. We found a recipe on line & modified it slightly. We tried it on the plastic shutters that we are using for our headboard & it exceeded our expectations. It adheres like white cat hair on a black sweater--you know what I'm talking about. Our experience showed us that it thickens up quickly & you have to keep it loose with water. We used a white flat paint for this project & plan to try other types /colors of paint for future projects--we'll keep you posted! The Recipe--cup of flat paint to 1 TBSP of unsanded grout, best if mixed in its own container with lid. Make 1 cup at a time. Too see our related post & videos;
Constructing Upholstered Shuttered Headboard The Science & Art of Chalk Paint YouTube – Painting Fabric YouTube - Padded Shutter Headboard I bought these porcelain dogs at an estate sale for $5. I didn't particularly care for the color-too 80's library for me- but the shape was crazy good. After three, light shots of Krylon's Ivory spray paint, well, these dogs "speak" for themselves.
![]() We are beginning our headboard with this inspirational photo. Instead of using a patterned fabric in the panels, we have opted to paint ours for a vintage feel. The top shutter will say “Sweet Dreams” and the bottom one will say “His” & “Hers”. Supplies:
1) Stretch & tack down fabric to board. Line with paper to prevent bleeding. 2) Select stencils and lay out where the letters should be placed and traced. If stenciling go to step. 3) then use mixed paint & stencil.3) Mix fabric meduim & craft paint (half & half), this will help the paint go on smoother. We used painter’s drop cloth, which is a nubby fabric- it is a little more difficult to paint. To see more of our related post & videos;
Constructing Upholstered Shuttered Headboard The Science & Art of Chalk Paint YouTube – Painting Fabric YouTube - Padded Shutter Headboard |
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AuthorsWe are all worthy of feeling satisfied about where we are in our homes. Our approach to the adventure is as important as the results. The journey of finding our design ideals shifts with seasons & people passing through our lives. We are more likely to enjoy the creative process when things are made easy and How To Love Your Home's passion for finding & sharing tools, tips, & triumphs is here for simplifying the journey to a commonsense approach to homemaking & design! Archives
March 2019
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